Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 109 of 576 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Tires. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
66 crash reports29 fire reports34 injury reports
What owners actually said
576 reports
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Tires
LAST JULY ON A HOT, 87 DEGREE AFTERNOON, MY FRONT LEFT TIRE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS FLAT BY THE TIME I STOPPED SO I CHANGED IT. I PURCHASED TWO NEW COOPER TIRES TO REPLACE THE FRONTS. I HAVE ROTATED SNOW TIRES ON THE REAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE REMAINING FIRESTONE ORIGINAL TIRES.*AK (DOT…
Read full complaint
LAST JULY ON A HOT, 87 DEGREE AFTERNOON, MY FRONT LEFT TIRE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS FLAT BY THE TIME I STOPPED SO I CHANGED IT. I PURCHASED TWO NEW COOPER TIRES TO REPLACE THE FRONTS. I HAVE ROTATED SNOW TIRES ON THE REAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE REMAINING FIRESTONE ORIGINAL TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UU IPO TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)
NHTSA ODI #745726
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Tires
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT ON RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT(P225/70R14SL) TIRE, CONSUMER STATED SHE WROTE FIRESTONE AND MANUFACTURER AND SHE WAS TOLD BY BOTH COMPANIES THAT TIRE WAS NOT AT FAULT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #561229
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001
Tires
TIRE SIZE P22570R14, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, RANGER, 1998 WITH 38,000 MILES. ALL 4 TIRES HAVE EVIDENCE OF CRACKING ON OUTSIDE WHERE TREAD MEETS AND RUNS DOWN CIRCUMFERENCE ON ALL 4 CHANNELS. THERE IS STILL TREAD LEFT.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, DOT VDHLXBU1700. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #888185
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2001
Tires
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, RANGER, P235/70R16 SIZE, DOT# VN081BU. SIDEWALL ON RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT AT 80MPH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #887220
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2001
Seat Belts
PASSENGER'S SIDE RESTRAINT WILL NOT RETRACT OUT. PASSENGER IS UNRESTRAINED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #887196
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Tires
FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, FORD, RANGER, AND TIRES HAD 49000 MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER HAD NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION FROM OUTER SIDEWALL WHERE TREAD MET SIDEWALL. P265/75R15, DOT W2B1PK. *AK 2 FIRESTONE DEALERS AND 1 FORD DEALER STATED CONSUMER SHOULD REPLACE ALL TIRES, 1 OTHER FIRESTO…
Read full complaint
FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, FORD, RANGER, AND TIRES HAD 49000 MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER HAD NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION FROM OUTER SIDEWALL WHERE TREAD MET SIDEWALL. P265/75R15, DOT W2B1PK. *AK 2 FIRESTONE DEALERS AND 1 FORD DEALER STATED CONSUMER SHOULD REPLACE ALL TIRES, 1 OTHER FIRESTONE DEALER STATED TIRE CRACKING WAS OZONE CRACKING AND THAT THE TIRES WERE OKAY, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AT HIS COST. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #886902
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
Tires
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TUOLPS, P235/75R15, EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER STATES THE STEEL WAS SHOWING THROUGH ONE OF THE TIRES, THESE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #560810
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2001
Seat BeltsCrash
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN. DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN SO OCCUPANTS CAN REACH FOR COFFEE, ETC.
NHTSA ODI #743959
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001
Power Train
COMPLAINTS OF VIBRATIONS IN FRONT END BEGAN 9-98. THIS TRANAMISSION WAS SERVICED AT 16321. COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME VIBRATION CONTINUED AND WAS NEVER ELIMINATED. AT ABOUT 50300 THE VIBRATION BE CAME MORE VIOLENT AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION SEALS TO LEAK. THE THE RESULTS WAS A COMPLETE BREAK DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #743900
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001
Suspension
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION LAST YEAR ON 3-14-2000. ALL 4 BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD 29,000 MILES THEN. VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION AGAIN THIS YEAR AT 39,570 MILES. UPPER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING. IN VIRGINIA, VEHICLES HAVE TO BE INSPECTED EVERY YEAR.*AK *SLC
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE TRANSAXLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THE PARK DETENT SPRING MISALIGNED. IF THE SPRING IS MISALIGNED, THE PARK MECHANISM MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PARK MECHANISM DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS NOT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE AS IF IN NEUTRAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSAXLE AND ANY WITH MISALIGNED PARK DETENT SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OFF-ROAD OPTION. THE TIRE AND RIM IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS INCORRECT ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE 16" TIRES COULD NOT BE INFLATED ON THE SPECIFIED 15X7.0J RIM.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A SAFETY CERTIFICAITON LABEL PARTIAL OVERLAY WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE CORRECT RIM SIZE, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THIS LABEL TO THE VEHICLE. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR FORD DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES. THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTED FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LINE COULD CONTACT THE MANIFOLD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP TO HOLD THE FUEL LINE IN THE INTENDED DESIGN POSITION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations
Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
1998 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration